Read: Mark 3:24-25

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

Reflect:

Jesus spoke those words against those who were trying to undermine his ministry by saying Jesus was possessed by a demon. He refuted his critics and the sentiments of those words above are found in the state motto of Kentucky today and are depicted on the flag of the Commonwealth.

As I drove across the Ohio River into Kentucky earlier today, I saw the state motto of “United we stand. Divided we fall” on an electronic billboard. I’m not sure who paid for the sign, but it is a timely reminder of what is happening in our culture today. It doesn’t take an advanced degree to see that we are being divided as a people. I have a lot of thoughts across a number of topics, but let’s consider just this one area today.

A few weeks ago, we were unified in our horror in the killing of a man in police custody in Minneapolis. Since then we, as a country, have rapidly moved from peaceful protests to ongoing riots, looting, and destruction of property across our country. And it appears to be accelerating, doesn’t it? In addition to violence from one coast to the other, just this last weekend more than 100 people were shot in Chicago including the shooting .death of a three-year-old. Where is the outrage of the death of another innocent life?

As Christians, we are expected to “love our neighbor as our very own self” (Matthew 22:39). This is not an option. We are not to favor one person over another (James 1:8-9).  So, I believe there are many well-intentioned people who care about the problem of racism expressed against others, but a small number of people and their movement are making ongoing efforts to topple our way of life.

Last week I heard theologian Albert Mohler comment that the sentence, “Black Lives Matter,” is a true statement we can all agree with, but the political movement of Black Lives Matter runs contrary to the values of Biblical Christianity. You can read or listen for yourself here  – The Briefing

Pastor Phil Steiger wrote a good, fair and timely article on the topic – Leave the Baby. Take the Bath Water.  He raises questions, followers of Christ must answer. Can you stand in solidarity with a movement that calls for the destruction of the nuclear family? Does your worldview embrace the abortions of unborn children (black children included)? Are you on board with every aspect of the sexual revolution? Do you embrace the idea of Critical Theory? Are you in favor of the destruction of the American economic system?

Like nearly every character we read of in Scripture, the people and the nation we live in is flawed in any number of ways, but that doesn’t mean we should commit suicide as a people. The truth is that there are those who seek to divide us.

Respond:

So, what are we to do? A friend reminded me today of Ephesians 6:10-12 –

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

We are facing schemes and lies that are rooted in the destruction in the verses above. Ultimately our struggle is not with other people, it is much deeper than that. The very least we can do is to stand for Biblical truth. If we fail to stand as followers of Christ,